View Full Version : Crap Weather for January!
walpurgis
01-01-2017, 00:46
Got nothing to say about the weather so far, but I thought I'd get this thread rolling before going to bed. Happy New Year!
walpurgis
01-01-2017, 10:20
More cool, damp, gloom to kick the year off. I guess not much will change until mid March.
Definitely crap weather here!
Sunny but cold here. 3c .
rmcin626
01-01-2017, 10:36
Dry and cold on the west coast
First heavy rain for quite a while rolled in just after midnight. Setting the tone for the year...
'All is quiet on New Year's day', according to U2
No mention of the fact that it is also cold and pissing down. Call themselves weather forecasters? Hah!
Audio Al
01-01-2017, 11:16
Cold dull and dreary here , Rained earlier :(
southall-1998
02-01-2017, 08:10
Very cold and bitter here in Torquay at the moment. We had some strong winds yesterday, and some fog the day before.
S.
rmcin626
02-01-2017, 08:51
Cold and dry this morning around -1c at the moment
Nippy here, clear skies.
Got to go and shave off my beard now as back at work on Wednesday. At the moment looks like I have spent a month on the Russian Front.
Now *that* I would like to see! Pics or it didn't happen...... :D
Marco.
Decently warm today and could go out in jersey but to be colder tomorrow
It's the coldest it been here today - absolutely bloody freezing! Had to pop out to the local shops, when I got there I realised I had forgotten to take my wallet (:doh:), so walked back home to get it. However I was so cold when I got home I decided I wasn't going to go out back again, so did without.
Senility creeping in with old age. Better luck next time!
southall-1998
03-01-2017, 23:05
It's freeeeeezing!
S.
Now *that* I would like to see! Pics or it didn't happen...... :D
Marco.
No too late now. I am back to 'corporate' me. :)
Audio Al
04-01-2017, 03:19
Nippy here, clear skies.
Got to go and shave off my beard now as back at work on Wednesday. At the moment looks like I have spent a month on the Russian Front.
I always look like that , Had my face fungus 42 years now :)
walpurgis
04-01-2017, 09:22
Broken cloud today. Not desperately cold. Could brighten a bit by the look of things.
Clifford.T Ward
04-01-2017, 09:29
We had a few cm of snow the other day but, now it has gone back to rain and 2 degrees C.:)
2c here and not to get much warmer. Nice looking blue sky thou and no frost
Nice and bright here in Shropshire but going to get very cold tonight apparently
rmcin626
04-01-2017, 13:19
Back to work and its lovely out there typical
Nice day although very cold. Barely above freezing at a mighty 1c. Was sunny earlier but some high cloud appearing
was a nice and fairly mild day, and mild night at moment.
walpurgis
07-01-2017, 10:57
Dull, but mild here.
If it stays dry, I'll have a bash at putting up my new shed. It's in a huge cardboard box in the garden at the moment. Under cover of course, can't have a shed getting wet now can we? :D
Ooh a new shed! Happy days. My house came with a shed that was empty except for a big tool bench with loads of drawers and cubby holes. One day I noticed it had been broken into and someone had opened all the drawer, must have been 20 or so. Would love to meet them just so I could ask then what exactly they expected to find? Gold? Jewels? A Rolex or two? Obviously an old wooden shed out the back is exactly where I would keep such things, where I to have them.
Dull, but mild here.
If it stays dry, I'll have a bash at putting up my new shed. It's in a huge cardboard box in the garden at the moment. Under cover of course, can't have a shed getting wet now can we? :D
Cardboard sheds eh? What will they think of next ;) dull n damp here, still mild for time of year.
rmcin626
07-01-2017, 14:09
Dry and very misty
walpurgis
08-01-2017, 10:42
Dull, mild and drizzly at the moment. Good job I got the new 'shed' erected yesterday.
Dull, mild and drizzly at the moment. Good job I got the new 'shed' erected yesterday.
Similar weather here. Got lights on again as its so dark. 5 months til spring up here lol
walpurgis
08-01-2017, 11:00
5 months til spring up here lol
Then you get three days of sunshine and it's winter again. ;)
Then you get three days of sunshine and it's winter again. ;)
Something like that, yes.:D occasionally get lucky though.
Foggy here again. Not as thick as yesterday though.
I still *WANT* snow! :wah: :please:
Marco.
walpurgis
08-01-2017, 22:30
I still *WANT* snow! :wah: :please:
Marco.
It'll turn chilly in a few days Marco, so you could get lucky!
No snow here but the fog, which had burnt off a bit during the day, is creeping back. Quite thick down by the river.
Quite like fog. Used to live out in the country on top of a hill and the fog was so thick visibility was about 20 feet. If you opened the front door it billowed in like smoke.
walpurgis
08-01-2017, 22:47
Here ya go!
http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/arctic-air-could-bring-snow-to-most-of-uk-by-friday-11364134841787
As long as it happens at the weekend when I don't have to go anywhere that is fine. Otherwise for those of us who have to travel to work it is an additional ballache we don't need. There is already so many cars on the roads that it can take me an hour to travel 6 miles home. If it snows you can double that. not to mention getting into work in the first place. It only takes a inch or two to settle and that is it, total gridlock.
The annual Daily Express 'Britain to shiver for months in grip of Arctic white hell' headline comes down to a bit of sleet or snow for a couple of days. Personally I could do without snow altogether, though we went for a nice walk on a frosty/misty day last week.
As long as it happens at the weekend when I don't have to go anywhere that is fine. Otherwise for those of us who have to travel to work it is an additional ballache we don't need. There is already so many cars on the roads that it can take me an hour to travel 6 miles home. If it snows you can double that. not to mention getting into work in the first place. It only takes a inch or two to settle and that is it, total gridlock.
Yes, hope it happens at the weekend, for the reasons you state. Love experiencing a nice white, 'winter wonderland' landscape, and watching little white snowflakes fall, when outside its quite dark and moody, whilst you're wrapped up all cosy inside the house beside a roaring log fire!
That *feeling* is just so nice and comforting :)
Marco.
Light snow forecast here for Friday night.
Spectral Morn
09-01-2017, 12:11
Its coming our way http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38554357
Could be related to the Solar Minimum which the sun has begun to enter, this is know to trigger mini ice ages :eek:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_minimum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age
About 10c today but wet and cold wind
walpurgis
10-01-2017, 11:05
Bit of a nothing day here. Not particularly cold or mild. Not overcast, but a fair bit of cloud. No rain, but feels damp. Typical January.
Going to be a big storm fri sat here.. 60 ml wind and driving snow possible. Better do anything needed by thurs.
That big storm came early lol. Still blowing too... been very windy n wet. Snow forcast for tomorrow, although its already in the rain occasionally. Life is going to be challenging for a while. Some neighbours gardens are already showing signs of warzonelike destruction. Sheds etc scattered.
Snow forecast here for tomorrow, too. Blowing a gale and raining right now.
Shame it's not falling on a weekend, but if it snows tomorrow, we'll be looking forward to it, especially Del, as she's off work :)
Marco.
I've booked Friday off as judging by the forecast it might be a big one here. 12 hours of snow from Thursday afternoon onward.
Wise man. Time to take the sledge up the park? :cool:
Marco.
No park round here. There is some waste ground but it is too flat and anyway it is fenced off.
And I don't own a sled.
Otherwise, good idea. :)
get some beer and slob playing tunes.... aka ;)
No park round here. There is some waste ground but it is too flat and anyway it is fenced off.
And I don't own a sled.
Otherwise, good idea. :)
Lol! No parks? We've got umpteen here in Wrexham... And they're all beautifully kept, too.
Anyway, just got a load of logs, wood and coal in, so that if we wake up to 6ft of snow tomorrow, I'm not having to plough through it all to get at what we need :)
Marco.
walpurgis
11-01-2017, 19:36
The wind turned earlier today. It's coming from the northwest now, so it's bringing arctic weather down from the north Atlantic.
Snow has started
Not here. Just a bit cold at the moment, not even much wind.
I'll come up to yours then for a snowball fight! :eyebrows:
Marco.
The wind turned earlier today. It's coming from the northwest now, so it's bringing arctic weather down from the north Atlantic.
Aye it was bitter when I left work earlier. Cuts right through you. I've got a pal who is looking to retire to Portugal. Might wait until he s settled, go for a visit and just not leave.
I mean it is not as bad as Scotland here but for most of the summer it is a bit nippy, never mind the winter.
Move a few miles up the road to Wales ;)
Stoke does seem to be, overall, a rather grey and depressing place.
Marco.
rmcin626
11-01-2017, 20:19
Very wet and windy here
Fearing that this thread is going to run for each of the months of the year, I thought I would pre-empt replies by quoting the apt 'A Song of the Weather' by Flanders and Swan:
_eT40eV7OiI
January brings the snow,
Makes your feet and fingers glow.
February's ice and sleet,
Freeze the toes right off your feet.
Welcome, March, with wint'ry wind,
Would thou wert not so unkind.
April brings the sweet spring showers,
On and on for hours and hours.
Farmers fear unkindly May,
Frost by night and hail by day.
June just rains and never stops,
Thirty days and spoils the crops.
In July the sun is hot,
Flanders: Is it shining?
Swann: No it's not!
Both: August, cold and dank and wet,
Brings more rain than any yet.
Bleak September's mist and mud,
Is enough to chill the blood.
Then October adds a gale,
Wind and slush and rain and hail.
Dark November brings the fog,
Should not do it to a dog.
Freezing wet December, then...
Bloody January again!
So much for snow! It's 5°C, dry and cloudy here - a long way from snow.... Perhaps that will change later?
Marco.
its all white here... swap ya?
Clifford.T Ward
12-01-2017, 10:30
They keep telling us that we might get snow or even thundersnow (?) so I have decided that I will put on some good music ....cup my hands around a nice warm coffee and see what happens:)
walpurgis
12-01-2017, 11:40
Just cold, drizzly and gloomy here.
So much for snow! It's 5°C, dry and cloudy here - a long way from snow.... Perhaps that will change later?
Marco.
Your snow is not scheduled until 1700 hrs. Then you have heavy snow until midnight.
We are currently having some sleet as an aperitif.
Your snow is not scheduled until 1700 hrs. Then you have heavy snow until midnight.
We are currently having some sleet as an aperitif.
Lol... We had 'four flakes' falling here at 4pm, along with some hailstones, so if that's it, I'll be well disappointed! 'Proper snow' has been forecast for later, so we'll see what transpires. If I don't wake up to the scene from 'The Snowman' tomorrow morning, the Met Office will be hearing from me!! ;)
Marco.
Been a few flutters but nothing much new. Stuff last night hasnt gone anywhere and snow under the softer recent fall has turned icy ... cutting wind too so no one going out that dont have to. The estate roads and pavements are tretcherous...god knows where our local gritter is or our pavement machine. Usually been up by now. Maybe its too cold for them...bless:D
walpurgis
12-01-2017, 17:49
We've got a proper blizzard on the go here now. The ground is very wet from all the rain earlier, so it's not settling.........Yet!
Well I am home now and not going anywhere until Tuesday. So it can do what it wants.
Well I am home now and not going anywhere until Tuesday. So it can do what it wants.
So, heavy snow for Stoke on Monday night then :D
Wouldn't surprise me. We never got beyond the sleet here and now it has stopped, sky is clear and it is very cold.
Forecast for your area probably aint cold enough for much snow Martin. Tonights coldest for the week
Still hee-haw of the white stuff here to write home about! :rolleyes:
Marco.
rmcin626
12-01-2017, 20:09
Has tried to snow without a great deal of success
Has snowed here for an hour or so. Stopped now but there is about an inch over everything. Looks like it is melting, though. Not as cold now as it was.
hifi_dave
13-01-2017, 13:02
A thin layer of snow and windy but the Sun has been blazing down for a couple of hours. Looks lovely out there..:smoking:
rmcin626
13-01-2017, 13:28
Lovely and sunny but very cold
About 4c here was sunny but dulling over so aything could happen. Been out and done what was needed. Car is now parked up and on charge. The weekend is mine.....I hope
Clifford.T Ward
13-01-2017, 14:27
Well the cold weather finally hit here in The Southern Netherlands......strong cold winds, wintery showers, ice , snow etc , so I have got the shopping in and am curling up in front of the fire to enjoy some good music and will not venture out much over the next few chilly days......:)
Nice and warm here, in my office, about 25 degrees. A bit colder outside, pulled out my favourite Icelandic woolly jumper this morning.
Was colder on my winter holiday a couple of weeks ago to the beach in Belgium - minus 3 but people we out building sandcastles. Long cycles along the coast, nether regions completely froze up. After the cycling we went for ice cream.
walpurgis
14-01-2017, 09:56
Today couldn't be more 'January' really. Ominous overcast gloom and pretty chilly. The joys of British seasons.
Sunny blue and damn cold here. 0c
Sunny blue and damn cold here. 0c
Exactly the same here! Still pissed off at the lack of snow, after all the promises... All we got was a tiny light dusting, now all gone :(
Marco.
Still got snow on ground here, and on roofs etc, but not so much as was.
rmcin626
14-01-2017, 10:21
Cold and dry and very frosty
walpurgis
15-01-2017, 10:06
Today couldn't be more 'January' really. Ominous overcast gloom and pretty chilly. The joys of British seasons.
More of the same today. We're stuck with this until spring I reckon, That's 20th March.
walpurgis
15-01-2017, 19:48
The rain has finally stopped for the moment. That's over eight hours of it today. It'll be a bit squishy walking the dog tomorrow. :rolleyes:
Rain here too. That fine stuff that soaks you through. Misty too. Basically the clouds are at ground level.
walpurgis
16-01-2017, 10:20
The gloom continues, as does the rain. At least it's not bitterly cold today, just pretty soggy!
Aye quite mild here too, still damp and misty though.
9c here with mostly blue sky at moment although a fair bit of cloud around. Been fairly mild so far this year...famous last words :doh:
hifi_dave
16-01-2017, 11:42
Lucky sod. It's cold, dark and wet here. Bloody horrid.
walpurgis
17-01-2017, 23:43
A pretty hard frost setting in tonight.
still 7c up here, which is silly warm for near midnight in Jan up here. Not raining either.
walpurgis
17-01-2017, 23:58
Not raining either.
Bet it is in Northern Ireland and Halifax. It always rains in those places. :)
walpurgis
18-01-2017, 10:11
Pretty nippy here at the moment, still frost everywhere. The sun's out and it could be a nice enough day later.
Remains mild here. Ground is damp but otherwise ok....cant last this..lol
Clifford.T Ward
18-01-2017, 10:33
Minus 4 here during the day and minus 7 at night ....no snow but heavy frost .
walpurgis
18-01-2017, 10:37
Just checked the outside thermometer. One degree Celsius at the moment. The lowest last night was minus one.
rmcin626
18-01-2017, 10:59
Dry, cloudy and a very mild 8 degrees
Foggy again here. Visibility about half a mile.
Nice... Take an axe out and frighten some folk in the dark! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Light Dependant Resistor
18-01-2017, 22:34
Nice... Take an axe out and frighten some folk in the dark! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Or put on ,Track 2 side one Pink Floyd Ummagumma
walpurgis
19-01-2017, 09:33
Effin' freezing here. Looks like it'll be a repeat of yesterday.
Little colder today at 6c. Very cloudy and damp. Not great but could be worse
Exact same as it was here yesterday: for the time of year, a mild 8°C, cloudy but dry. Just back from my daily 5-mile brisk walk, and feel suitably invigorated! :)
Time for a shower now, a relax and listen to some choons, then out for lunch with Del and my dad later at a superb new Portuguese restaurant that's opened up in Wrexham, where they serve the most amazing barbecued (whole) prawns in chilli and garlic, and ice-cold Super Bock lager, on draught, in chilled tankards... Awesome!! :barrel:
It's a hard life! :cool:
Marco.
Oooh, new emoticon. Enjoy it... dont like prawns so dont envy you :ner:
New emotion? The barrel one has been there since the dawn of AoS, daftee!
Cheers. Seafood is good for you, especially barbecued on hot coals, and then served with plenty of fresh garlic, olive oil, parsley and lemon juice, like how the Portuguese do it - LOTS of fresh FLAVOURS, that's what it's about. The grilled sardines they sell are also superb :)
None of yer bland, tasteless pap, lol ;)
Marco.
P.S The beer is amazing, as is the espresso coffee afterwards!
Never seen it b4. Not into seafood tbh. Beer will be good though..i,d stick to that and beans on toast lol
Lol... Have you always had such bland (safe, rather unadventurous) tastes in food, or is is just because of your recent health issues?
Marco.
Pretty bland now. Liked spicey stuff and more exotic when gut could handle it though. Still i can still wangle some flavour out of things. Trick is herbs etc as you know. Never liked seafood. Like salmon, haddock...that sort of thing but not crab, prawn etc.
No worries, mate. Plenty of Brits are the same, which unfortunately is why so much of the UK's (superb) seafood, especially the stuff that comes from Scotland, is exported abroad! :doh:
For me, you can't beat stuff like fresh scallops, langoustine, clams, etc, when cooked properly, but it shouldn't be as expensive as it as. It's only like because we (the Brits) don't eat enough of it, and the likes of the Spanish and French will pay top dollar for it instead, to serve in their restaurants...
Marco.
walpurgis
19-01-2017, 12:16
I did a 'chinese' meal the other night. I put some chilli oil in with the veg stir fry. The youngest grand daughter sampled a forkful, shrieked and ran off the the kitchen tap to rinse her mouth out. Think it was a bit hot for her. :)
Planning on seafood for tonight. Not decided what yet though.
No worries, mate. Plenty of Brits are the same, which unfortunately is why so much of the UK's (superb) seafood is, especially the stuff that comes from Scotland, is exported abroad! :doh:
For me, you can't beat stuff like fresh scallops, langoustine, clams, etc, when cooked properly, but it shouldn't be as expensive as it as. It's only like because we (the Brits) don't eat enough of it, and the likes of the Spanish and French will pay top dollar for it instead, to serve in their restaurants...
Marco.
I was only one in family who didnt like it. The rest of them ate it all the time... mind you my dad would eat anything and his favourite was tripe and onions..which both looks and smells revolting....hence he didnt get it often lol. Still, each to his own.
Exact same as it was here yesterday: for the time of year, a mild 8°C, cloudy but dry. Just back from my daily 5-mile brisk walk, and feel suitably invigorated! :)
Time for a shower now, a relax and listen to some choons, then out for lunch with Del and my dad later at a superb new Portuguese restaurant that's opened up in Wrexham, where they serve the most amazing barbecued (whole) prawns in chilli and garlic, and ice-cold Super Bock lager, on draught, in chilled tankards... Awesome!! :barrel:
It's a hard life! :cool:
Marco.
Marco, will you please stop posting stuff like this while us minions are at work?
Honestly, you idle rich types are so insensitive towards drones! :)
P.S. 5 miles daily brisk walk, good for you. That'll soon shift any excess flubber. You must be like a racing snake by now :D
Lol... Sure does - and it increases your fitness quite dramatically :)
Message understood... I shall refrain from relating the details of my munching and boozing sessions to you sensitive peasants! :ner::eyebrows:
;)
Btw, John, I think you'd love the restaurant in question.
Marco.
Btw, John, I think you'd love the restaurant in question.
Marco.
Hmm...you may have read me wrong Marco. Currently enjoying a smoky bacon crisp sandwich for lunch :D
Hmm...you may have read me wrong Marco. Currently enjoying a smoky bacon crisp sandwich for lunch :D
In what way? :hmm:
Marco.
In what way? :hmm:
Marco.
Just in case you thought I was a bit of a high flyer in the food stakes and only frequented swanky eateries :)
I'm a reasonably plain eater but I do enjoy a nice meal out.
How was your lunch anyway, did our wife and dad enjoy it?
The whole day out sounded lovely btw, especially when you're in work!
Just in case you thought I was a bit of a high flyer in the food stakes and only frequented swanky eateries :)
Lol... Not at all, and neither do I. The Portuguese place in question is little more than a glorified cafe, and about as basic as it gets, but it's family run and the owners are passionate about what they do and about Portuguese cuisine, with the food produced simple and unpretentious - and those are often my favourite places!
How was your lunch anyway, did our wife and dad enjoy it?
The whole day out sounded lovely btw, especially when you're in work!
Ha - let's not forget that the only reason I don't have to work full time now is because I've earned that status, having worked like a dog for many years running my business and been fortunate that that's now allowed me to take a back seat and enjoy life a little, spending it with those I care about. Nothing was handed to me on a plate! Just in case you'd gotten the wrong impression ;)
They both enjoyed lunch very much. My dad only lives across the road, and he's 83, but very fit and great for his age, so it's good spending some time together (we've always been close) and making as many nice memories as possible, because at his age you never know how long it'll be until those memories are all you'll have left...
My wife, Del, has taken some time off work at the moment, and she's also looking forward to retiring soon from her job as a college lecturer, which she's very good at, but before she can do that, she needs to find something else that's challenging, to occupy her time, as unlike me she can't sit still for two minutes (always needs to be on the go), and wouldn't be content with just listening to music all day, or posting pish on here like I do! :D
Marco.
-2c at moment. Our warm spell is over. forecast says it will warm up so we will see. a fog around too
Hovering above zero here, but no fog, just cloudy and dry. Wood burner lit and keeping us nice and toasty! :)
Marco.
walpurgis
21-01-2017, 10:23
Bang on zero here, but very bright and sunny. If it wasn't so cold, you'd think spring was here.
Fog is rapidly burning off, and frost is melting in places. Temp climbing towards 2c
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170121/4270a4048eb6918878dcc9111d4e232f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170121/41ec4a99a1befdee06359f56805d6b90.jpg
Pretty stunning weather here in Weymouth actually!!!
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walpurgis
21-01-2017, 23:47
Just popped outside. A bit nippy right now at -2C.
-4 here, in for the night now ;)
southall-1998
22-01-2017, 00:17
Freeeezzzzing here in Torquay.
S.
We have had snow then 3 days of rain here in Spain, the locals have never seen anything like it. The sea is more like the Atlantic than the Mediterranean !!!
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farflungstar
22-01-2017, 10:11
Yes, it's freezing here in Spain. It's snowed either side of where I am and has rained non stop over my house for the last 4 days - and no central heating!
Adey
In perpetual pursuit.
Cold here too. Ice on the roof tiles. Still, January is almost over. Only problem is that February is usually worse.
walpurgis
22-01-2017, 10:44
It's icy cold here. I've got a motorbike to go and look at later, the test ride could be fun (not)! :)
Best time of year to buy a motorbike. Or a convertible.
About 2c here, but feels colder. Must be old age lol. Yup Feb not far away; a short but nasty month....i was born in it :eyebrows:
walpurgis
22-01-2017, 11:00
Best time of year to buy a motorbike. Or a convertible.
Yeah. I know. Could be profitable, the asking price was already low and I've haggled that down.
Yes, it's freezing here in Spain. It's snowed either side of where I am and has rained non stop over my house for the last 4 days - and no central heating!
Adey
In perpetual pursuit.
Where abouts are you in sunny Spain?
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farflungstar
22-01-2017, 13:13
Alicante capital - freezing!
In perpetual pursuit.
Then I am the snow on one side of you as I am in Xabia just up the road, fortunately I do have central heating !!
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farflungstar
22-01-2017, 19:32
Then you're bloody lucky! I'd kill for central heating right now. Good to know there's a member as a neighbour. smile.
Adey
In perpetual pursuit.
walpurgis
22-01-2017, 23:16
There's thick frost on everything outside, it's zero C again and very still. Not particularly quiet though, being about a mile from the M4, the traffic noise is a steady distant rushing sound. There's never true silence here. Ever.
quiet as grave here. about 2c still. might get a little frost on cars etc but wont be much.. pretty cloudy
Lol... Not at all, and neither do I. The Portuguese place in question is little more than a glorified cafe, and about as basic as it gets, but it's family run and the owners are passionate about what they do and about Portuguese cuisine, with the food produced simple and unpretentious - and those are often my favourite places!
Ha - let's not forget that the only reason I don't have to work full time now is because I've earned that status, having worked like a dog for many years running my business and been fortunate that that's now allowed me to take a back seat and enjoy life a little, spending it with those I care about. Nothing was handed to me on a plate! Just in case you'd gotten the wrong impression ;)
They both enjoyed lunch very much. My dad only lives across the road, and he's 83, but very fit and great for his age, so it's good spending some time together (we've always been close) and making as many nice memories as possible, because at his age you never know how long it'll be until those memories are all you'll have left...
My wife, Del, has taken some time off work at the moment, and she's also looking forward to retiring soon from her job as a college lecturer, which she's very good at, but before she can do that, she needs to find something else that's challenging, to occupy her time, as unlike me she can't sit still for two minutes (always needs to be on the go), and wouldn't be content with just listening to music all day, or posting pish on here like I do! :D
Marco.
Apologies for the late reply Marco, BUSY weekend. Feels like being back at work for a rest!
Glad you had a good day out. Nothing nicer than enjoying each others company over a nice meal. Bet your dad enjoyed it too. You're right, enjoy him while you have him.
No problem here with anyone earning their retirement! Only a bit of banter ;)
And, if anyone has got it handed to them, good for them, enjoy :)
I'm sure Del will get something to keep her interested and active, busy people always do!
Been about 4c all day and still is. Light cloud now so may well stay about same.
walpurgis
24-01-2017, 10:08
Brightening up now. Was very cold and misty an hour ago. 0 degrees C at 9.00 am.
Wait until Thursday. Temperatures are set to plunge. Possibility of -10 in the south and as low as -20 up north. Lovely (not).
8c here today. To be a bit cooler next few days i think.
So much for all the 'Britain to shiver in grip of Siberian Hell for months on ends' bollocks printed in the Express. Mild for January today today (8c) and getting milder. Piers Corbyn is about as good a weather forecaster as his brother is as a political party leader.
Certainly been unseasonably warmer up here this year. Sometimes happens, and we will no doubt pay for it.
It was mild last Jan as well, then we got in to February and it went bloody freezing for 4 weeks.
It was mild last Jan as well, then we got in to February and it went bloody freezing for 4 weeks.
Yebbut the Express/Corbyn were predicting a Big Freeze starting in late November and lasting till late March! A bit of a cold snap in February is par for the course.
It was a beautiful sunny day here in Wrexham, but what mattered most was that the weather was going to be nice where we were going for the day (Abingdon, near Oxford), to the 'Miele Experience' showroom (see here: https://www.miele.co.uk/domestic/miele-gallery-abingdon-2912.htm), as we're in the middle of designing a new kitchen and would like to use Miele appliances throughout, simply because in terms of quality, they are in a league of their own (pure German engineering excellence).
Trouble is, go along to your average electrical showroom, and you'll find hardly any Miele products represented, so it's hard to get an idea a) what stuff looks like, and b) any proper aspects of its functionality.
Anyway the weather was even better down in Oxford than at home, so all good! In the Experience showroom, every Miele product is represented, and you're allocated a trained member of staff to show you around, tell you everything you need to know, and give you live demonstrations of cookery, etc, which was all very useful and so well worth the trip! We now know exactly what to buy! :)
After that, we found a lovely little pub for lunch, The White Hart at Fyfield: http://www.whitehart-fyfield.com/pwpcontrol.php?pwpID=7110
For anyone who finds themselves in the Oxford area, or who lives there but was unaware of The White Hart, I'd thoroughly recommend it. The pub itself is lovely, with bags of olde worlde charm and character, the selection of local ales extensive and of the highest quality, and the food top notch, where all the produce is sourced locally.
All in all, a great day out! :cool:
Marco.
It was a beautiful sunny day here in Wrexham, but what mattered most was that the weather was going to be nice where we were going for the day (Abingdon, near Oxford), to the 'Miele Experience' showroom (see here: https://www.miele.co.uk/domestic/miele-gallery-abingdon-2912.htm), as we're in the middle of designing a new kitchen and would like to use Miele appliances throughout, simply because in terms of quality, they are in a league of their own (pure German engineering excellence).
Trouble is, go along to your average electrical showroom, and you'll find hardly any Miele products represented, so it's hard to get an idea a) what stuff looks like, and b) any proper aspects of its functionality.
Anyway the weather was even better down in Oxford than at home, so all good! In the Experience showroom, every Miele product is represented, and you're allocated a trained member of staff to show you around, tell you everything you need to know, and give you live demonstrations of cookery, etc, which was all very useful and so well worth the trip! We now know exactly what to buy! :)
After that, we found a lovely little pub for lunch, The White Hart at Fyfield: http://www.whitehart-fyfield.com/pwpcontrol.php?pwpID=7110
For anyone who finds themselves in the Oxford area, or who lives there but was unaware of The White Hart, I'd thoroughly recommend it. The pub itself is lovely, with bags of olde worlde charm and character, the selection of local ales extensive and of the highest quality, and the food top notch, where all the produce is sourced locally.
All in all, a great day out! :cool:
Marco.
Excellent. Sounds like a nice wee day out.
It's good that there are still quality goods available if you're prepared to spend.
Pulled a piece of kitchen roll off one handed the other day but it was one of the last sheets and was glued to the last piece around the inner tube or something which meant it didn't "roll" but pulled the cast iron stand over.....onto the ceramic job :doh:
Looked at the induction hobs but would have had to replace both sets of (good) saucepans. Also *far* too complicated. Takes about 10 seconds to unlock and switch on. Went for the best quality standard one with knobs on (Neff) K.I.S.S.
walpurgis
25-01-2017, 09:36
The icy, foggy gloom persists. Wonder if it'll brighten up later? Yesterday was almost springlike in the afternoon.
Temp about same at moment at 8c, but a strongish southerly wind
Hi John,
Excellent. Sounds like a nice wee day out.
It's good that there are still quality goods available if you're prepared to spend.
All in all, it was. Nearly a 6-hour round trip though, just to go and look at some kitchen appliances... At least she can't say I don't love her. lol! Well, I've certainly spent enough on hi-fi over the years, so I guess fair's fair...;)
I actually quite enjoyed the experience, and it was an education discovering just how much attention to detail goes into the design of Miele products, which is still after all these years a family-run company, with the accent on producing the best and most up to date kitchen appliances possible, driven from the ground up by quality, not price, which picks up on your second point.
We're the type who like to buy something really good ONCE, which hopefully will last a very long time, than something less good (and cheaper), which will likely need replacing sooner rather than later, as for us that's a false economy and not very environmentally friendly. We were chatting to some other people there, some of whom have owned Miele products for over 25 years, and their stuff is still going strong!
That's another reason why we chose Miele, because they have an A+++ efficiency rating on most of their products. Del's a massive 'greeny'!
We're also not fashion victims, driven by the latest 'must have' fad, so are quite happy to 'soldier on' using something (as long as it continues to function perfectly well) that's eventually considered as 'obsolete'. It's only 5 years ago, for example, that we've got rid of our Sony CRT TV! :eyebrows:
Pulled a piece of kitchen roll off one handed the other day but it was one of the last sheets and was glued to the last piece around the inner tube or something which meant it didn't "roll" but pulled the cast iron stand over.....onto the ceramic job :doh:
Feck - bit of a nightmare, that. You sound a bit like Mr Bean! :D
Looked at the induction hobs but would have had to replace both sets of (good) saucepans. Also *far* too complicated. Takes about 10 seconds to unlock and switch on. Went for the best quality standard one with knobs on (Neff) K.I.S.S.
Induction hobs are exactly what we're getting. Couldn't believe how quickly a pan of water was boiled!! You really wouldn't need a kettle... Del was thinking about getting one of those instant hot water taps, which fit beside the sink, but that'll no longer be necessary, such is the efficiency of the induction hob.
Dunno what you mean about far too complicated, as even I (who rarely ever go near cookers) could use it, as it was a piece of piss! Maybe the Miele one is more user friendly than the Neff? No idea. All I know is that the hobs couldn't have been easier to use, along with the superb steam oven, which also almost makes microwaves redundant! :)
Marco.
Miele steam ovens are reputedly very good. Dont gum up like most as the steam is produced elsewhere. Always liked Miele gear.. buy cheap, buy twice was my grannies motto
Miele steam ovens are reputedly very good. Dont gum up like most as the steam is produced elsewhere. Always liked Miele gear.. buy cheap, buy twice was my grannies motto
And mine, lol! TBH mate, I don't think Miele make a duff product. The steam oven we're getting is touch-control and even has presets for how long to cook various types of fish! Their coffee machines too are, for me, almost in a league of their own.
That 'quality first' policy is also why we bought our chairs, sofas and curtains from Laura Ashley (that and the cottage-style look suits our house), as everything is handmade to your spec, and the quality of the carcasses superb - an area often overlooked by many people in their superficial quest for what simply 'looks nice' from the outside!
As with hi-fi, with furniture, it's what's 'under the hood' that matters most... ;)
Most of these things from DFS/SCS, or whatever, lose their shape and start to look scruffy in about 12 months. We wouldn't give them house room. But then if you're going to be changing your sofa almost as often as your underpants, I guess that doesn't matter... :eyebrows:
Marco.
Changing underpants? What a fanciful idea ;)
Ha - you sound like me. Only change them if, when you throw them against the wall, they stick - and even then they might still be good for another day or so!! :lol::D
;)
Marco.
Looking at kitchen appliances, let alone driving many miles to look at them, strikes me as about a dull a thing as it's possible to do, and I'm sure my wife would take a similarly jaundiced view. We've had the same hob since 1995, and see no need to change it. We did have to get a new oven about ten years ago as the previous one broke, and choosing that was a PITA.
Dunno what you mean about far too complicated
Sorry, should have put some context on that, far too complicated for my wife :D
....and I get it in the neck if she forgets how to use it and thinks it's a) broken or b) just rubbish.
Ironically enough, she thinks she's pretty handy at technical things :doh: ...but she's well worth it :)
Looking at kitchen appliances, let alone driving many miles to look at them, strikes me as about a dull a thing as it's possible to do, and I'm sure my wife would take a similarly jaundiced view. We've had the same hob since 1995, and see no need to change it. We did have to get a new oven about ten years ago as the previous one broke, and choosing that was a PITA.
You mean you dont go to view furniture and then discuss where it can be placed in a room? Weird ;)
You mean you dont go to view furniture and then discuss where it can be placed in a room? Weird ;)
Kitchen appliances aren't furniture! Having said that, we spent hours last year in various furniture stores faffing about trying to decide which sofa to buy, and ended up not buying any. 'The tyranny of choice' is I believe the apposite term here. The pair of us could procrastinate for England.
Looking at kitchen appliances, let alone driving many miles to look at them, strikes me as about a dull a thing as it's possible to do...
Not as dull as reading Shakespeare or PG wodehouse! ;)
Thing is, we're in the middle of designing a new kitchen, and there are *specific* appliances we want to buy, which we can't view locally, and the nearest place where we can do that is in Oxford, so what do you suggest we do - launch an official campaign for a change in the lack of Miele appliances displayed in our local area or protest to the mayor of Wrexham? :ner:
Marco.
Not as dull as reading Shakespeare or PG wodehouse! ;)
Thing is, we're in the middle of designing a new kitchen, and there are specific appliances we want to buy, which we can't view locally, and the nearest place where we can do that is in Oxford, so what do you suggest we do - launch an official campaign for a change in the lack of Miele appliances displayed in our local area or protest to the mayor of Wrexham? :ner:
Marco.
I'd get a bloke in to fit the kitchen and choose the appliances whilst my wife and I read PG Wodehouse and Shakespeare. As long as it's a gas hob and a gas stove, I'm not bothered about the make.
The pair of us could procrastinate for England.
...and that's where WE are so much POLES apart, Joe! ;)
Del and I are very decisive, proactive and very well-organised, so when we decide to do something, we DO it - and to the absolute best of abilities. Wishy-washy, lazy 'farter-abouters' we are not....
When we really want something, second best isn't an option.
Marco.
I'd get a bloke in to fit the kitchen and choose the appliances whilst my wife and I read PG Wodehouse and Shakespeare. As long as it's a gas hob and a gas stove, I'm not bothered about the make.
Lol - good for you. We're very much the 'hands on' type, and extremely fussy about the end result achieved, when embarking on these types of projects. I think it makes sense that when you're spending many thousands of pounds on something, that you're 100% satisfied, no?
Also, it's going to be a bespoke handmade kitchen, so attention to detail is paramount. Good job we're all different - it would be a boring world otherwise! :)
Marco.
...and that's where WE are so much POLES apart, Joe! ;)
Del and I are very decisive, proactive and very well-organised, so when we decide to do something, we DO it - and to the absolute best of abilities. Wishy-washy, lazy 'farter-abouters' we are not....
Marco.
I feel tired just reading that.
Better looking at coffee machines...man thats cool. Hoovers on other hand, suck
Yesh, it's always handy knowing when to suck and when to blow.... :eyebrows:
Marco.
Sorry, should have put some context on that, far too complicated for my wife :D
....and I get it in the neck if she forgets how to use it and thinks it's a) broken or b) just rubbish.
Ironically enough, she thinks she's pretty handy at technical things :doh: ...but she's well worth it :)
Lol - I'm sure she is. Thanks for the clarification! For us, indiction hobs are defo the way to go, and the Miele one we've chosen is gorgeously built and a joy to use, so what's not to like?
Job done! :cool:
Marco.
Don't know why you can't just order it on line, they have pictures you can look at. I'm with Joe on this, if I had the money and needed a new appliance I would buy Miele no question about it, but wouldn't need to look at it or have a go on it.
Re getting the builder to design you kitchen, that doesn't work IME. I need a new kitchen and bathroom and had a builder in:
B: So what do you want?
I: I want a new kitchen and bathroom
B: Yes but what do you want it to look like. What sort of tiles do you want?
I: New ones
B: No, which design of tile. And which boiler, cooker, sink, extraction unit, work surfaces, flooring...blah blah blah.
I: I don't know. I just want it all new. Can't you just do the same as you did in the last place you did?
B: Not really, no.
I: Oh forget it then.
Don't know why you can't just order it on line, they have pictures you can look at. I'm with Joe on this, if I had the money and needed a new appliance I would buy Miele no question about it, but wouldn't need to look at it or have a go on it.
Lol... Well. with respect, you're not exactly a cook, are you? We do lots of entertaining/dinner parties, etc, so Del wanted a hands-on demo of how the hob and steam oven worked, so that she could properly appreciate their benefits, especially with something such as induction hobs, as they're so different from from normal electric or gas ones.
Plus, we want the whole shebang to have touch-sensitive controls with LED menus, etc, and to see how intuitive it all was to use, from hands-on experience. I honestly don't see what's so difficult to grasp about that, daftee? If all that could've been achieved locally, don't you think I'd have done it...?
Would you buy a complete hi-fi system on-line, blind, without listening to it first, if (as if in the case of these Miele appliances) it's costing about £10k in total? I doubt it... Well, if you're into cooking, and want the best, then the same principle applies to kitchen appliances! ;)
We've already employed a kitchen designer, but he's having no input whatsoever in the appliances we choose - it's simply his job to ensure that they all fit into the necessary space, along with the units, etc, he's building :cool:
You need an expert for that bit, to make sure it all fits together and works as a functional kitchen, and that's what they're good at.
Marco.
Ahell no. You want to see goods first when buying personal stuff for a fancy kitchen. Its a cooks home
Don't know why you can't just order it on line, they have pictures you can look at. I'm with Joe on this, if I had the money and needed a new appliance I would buy Miele no question about it, but wouldn't need to look at it or have a go on it.
Re getting the builder to design you kitchen, that doesn't work IME. I need a new kitchen and bathroom and had a builder in:
B: So what do you want?
I: I want a new kitchen and bathroom
B: Yes but what do you want it to look like. What sort of tiles do you want?
I: New ones
B: No, which design of tile. And which boiler, cooker, sink, extraction unit, work surfaces, flooring...blah blah blah.
I: I don't know. I just want it all new. Can't you just do the same as you did in the last place you did?
B: Not really, no.
I: Oh forget it then.
What!! We are super picky. Couldn't have someone else pick :(
Also a bit like Marco and his wife - buy the best you can afford and keep forever.
I've learned to let my wife do the picking of the furnishings, she has a good eye. I just do my hifi room, hence the bleak look. I'd rather spend the money on something like a new bass or the hifi :D
Ahell no. You want to see goods first when buying personal stuff
+1 You can't beat seeing it for real.
Dammed right, especially when you're spending this kind of dosh! Only an idiot would do otherwise :doh:
I've learned to let my wife do the picking of the furnishings, she has a good eye.
I can understand that, and so does Del (after all she has an art degree, weaves her own cloth on a loom, etc) *but* I'm a picture framer and art lover in general, so I also have a good eye for colours/design combinations, therefore we work as a team, feeding off each other's ideas, and in the end come to a suitable compromise of what we BOTH want. We're also both pretty creative :)
That's how we did our black & white, art-deco style bathroom, full of Heritage period-style fittings, which turned out rather nice, and the new kitchen will be the same (in terms of quality and being bespoke), although unfortunately a damn sight more expensive! :rolleyes:
I may have to get my cap and guitar out, and busk in Wrexham town centre to pay for it all... That should raise about two-bob at least! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Ahell no. You want to see goods first when buying personal stuff for a fancy kitchen. Its a cooks home.
Nail > head, muchacho! :thumbsup:
Marco.
I may have to get my cap and guitar out, and busk in Wrexham town centre to pay for it all... That should raise about two-bob at least! :eyebrows:
Marco.
If you're anything like me you'll get paid more to keep quiet :D
Aye, that's the idea! :lol:
Marco.
The talk of Miele reminds me of a friend. His dishwasher (not a Miele) broke so, unwilling to buy a new one, he watched some videos on youtube and decided he could fix it himself. He couldn't, but he was not going to admit this so the dishwasher lay dismantled on the kitchen floor for several months
Problem is he is not keen on washing his dishes himself in the sink. He gets round this problem by buying new plates and cutelery at the supermarket each week when he does his food shop. This gets expensive really quickly, plus he is building a massive stack of supermarket crockery. So he switches to paper plates and plastic cutelry (I'm seriously not making this up). That lasted another month or so. Finally, he gives in, buys a new dishwasher.
Couple of years later, washing machine goes down. Again, decides he can sort it himself, dismantles it, spreads it across the kitchen. No joy. Can't wash his clothes, solution: Just buy new clothes in supermarket each week! That went on a few months too.
The talk of Miele reminds me of a friend. His dishwasher (not a Miele) broke so, unwilling to buy a new one, he watched some videos on youtube and decided he could fix it himself. He couldn't, but he was not going to admit this so the dishwasher lay dismantled on the kitchen floor for several months
Problem is he is not keen on washing his dishes himself in the sink. He gets round this problem by buying new plates and cutelery at the supermarket each week when he does his food shop. This gets expensive really quickly, plus he is building a massive stack of supermarket crockery. So he switches to paper plates and plastic cutelry (I'm seriously not making this up). That lasted another month or so. Finally, he gives in, buys a new dishwasher.
Couple of years later, washing machine goes down. Again, decides he can sort it himself, dismantles it, spreads it across the kitchen. No joy. Can't wash his clothes, solution: Just buy new clothes in supermarket each week! That went on a few months too.
an idiot obviously.:doh: Whats wrong with hand washing dishes.. only takes a minute ffs. costs pennies too. Not into dishwashers.
an idiot obviously.:doh: Whats wrong with hand washing dishes.. only takes a minute ffs. costs pennies too. Not into dishwashers.
I've no idea. Really no idea. He's a nut, what can I say?
The talk of Miele reminds me of a friend. His dishwasher (not a Miele) broke so, unwilling to buy a new one, he watched some videos on youtube and decided he could fix it himself. He couldn't, but he was not going to admit this so the dishwasher lay dismantled on the kitchen floor for several months
Problem is he is not keen on washing his dishes himself in the sink. He gets round this problem by buying new plates and cutelery at the supermarket each week when he does his food shop. This gets expensive really quickly, plus he is building a massive stack of supermarket crockery. So he switches to paper plates and plastic cutelry (I'm seriously not making this up). That lasted another month or so. Finally, he gives in, buys a new dishwasher.
Couple of years later, washing machine goes down. Again, decides he can sort it himself, dismantles it, spreads it across the kitchen. No joy. Can't wash his clothes, solution: Just buy new clothes in supermarket each week! That went on a few months too.
Haha - hilarious! You don't half hang around with some right nutters :D I'm presuming that he's single, too? ;)
Never understood the male bravado and obsession with needing to be 'handy', in order to be 'a proper man' and good at DIY, even if you've been born shite at it!! I happily acknowledge and accept my limitations, in that area, and when necessary simply employ the services of an expert (or my old man, who's pretty 'handy').
Better that, than kidding yourself on and having a house full of 'DIY disasters'!!
Marco.
an idiot obviously.:doh: Whats wrong with hand washing dishes.. only takes a minute ffs. costs pennies too. Not into dishwashers.
I know where you're coming from, and especially with you living on your own now, there would be no point. Up until now we've also always been 'anti-dishwasher' types, and this will be the first time we're getting one.
Why?
Well, firstly, modern dishwashers are more environmentally friendly and use far less water than you'd typically use to wash-up a multitude of dirty dishes, manually, such as we're left with, especially when friends and family come round for meals, where there can sometimes be 5-6 courses of food, not to mention all the wine glasses (red and white), water glasses, glasses for the aperitifs, coffee cups, pans for this, pans for that - you name it!! ;)
Not to mention the washing up you're doing when prepping all the food!
Secondly, purely to save time, during the above occasions, as I'm usually left with the task of doing the washing up, and it can take hours to sort out that lot above!! :eek:
So... No more. In my 'old age' I'm going to get a nice wee gadget to do the work instead, while I sit back and drink whisky.........
Marco.
walpurgis
25-01-2017, 20:02
I fix household appliances when it's worth the bother. My last tumble dryer got through a belt or two a year. A fiver a go rather than buying a new unit.
I also wash up as I go along, so there's never a stack of my stuff on the sink. Unfortunately the rest here don't operate that way! :rolleyes:
Can't do any washing up or have a wash at the moment. There's a burst water main just up the road and near zero pressure, hence no hot water currently.
I also wash up as I go along, so there's never a stack of my stuff on the sink.
So do we, in the course of a normal day, but when you've got six people round for lunch or dinner, and everything is freshly cooked from scratch, "stuff left on the sink", at the end, can't be helped ;)
Marco.
walpurgis
26-01-2017, 15:54
Damn nippy out there today. Definitely needed the gloves on walking the pooch across the fields earlier.
Minus two here. Plus the wind is bitter. My hut doesn't really work in these sort of temperatures, anything below zero outside and it never gets really warm inside. I don't know what they were thinking of when they built it. That was back in 1901 though so I suppose they just wrapped up a bit and burnt more coal.
bang on 0c here... cold too as wind is bitter. Glad im indoors. wasnt so bad early afternoon mind.
Bloody cold here. Nearly froze my ears off.
walpurgis
26-01-2017, 19:03
Definitely chilly tonight. Just been out. They did forecast Thursday night as being a frosty one.
Same here, cold with a bitter wind all day. Type that blows through you rather than around.
Wind is away, and sun is out.currently 1c. Pretty day though
Wet here today, and only 2c. Might turn to snow later.
Raining all night and morning but now stopped and sun has come out. Still cold but not as bad as yesterday. That wind was brutal.
Rain turned ti snow now. Not heavy or lying yet but trickling away. Miserable day
What a mardy bunch! It's January ffs, one cold day and you're crying like girls.
What do you mean one day? It's been near or at freezing here all month. Plus the wind chill. Just because you are down on the costa del Bristol having it large doesn't mean we are not suffering here up in the hills.
Plus what is the point of having weather if you can't complain about it?
A heady 9 degrees in sunny Brentwood (still too chilly to sit outside the pub however)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
4c at moment but been a nice day. Fed birdies and they swarmed down while i was doing it..must be hungry
walpurgis
30-01-2017, 20:57
I'm getting indfferent to indifferent weather.
Just reading it's going to get very cold again mid Feb so need to get some more coal and wood in!
Yeah we never seem to get off scot free in February. Quite mild at the moment here, albeit damp.
walpurgis
30-01-2017, 21:48
Just reading it's going to get very cold again mid Feb so need to get some more coal and wood in!
Mind you. The chances of a forecast for mid February being accurate are slim. They struggle to get it right for just a few days.
Truly 'orrible here at the moment... Dull, rainy, with a cold wind blowing. Let's hope it clears up later!
Marco.
Misty here, plus that fine rain that soaks you through.
southall-1998
31-01-2017, 23:49
Pissing wet here!
S.
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